About Us
Improving women's health
The Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women's Health (ACEWH) was one of four national Centres of Excellence for Women's Health funded by Health Canada through the Women's Health Contribution Program. ACEWH operated from 1996 to 2013, and was dedicated to conducting policy-oriented research aimed at improving the health status of Canadian women.
ACEWH supported research, influenced policy and promoted action on the social factors that affect women's health and well-being over their lifespans. It supported a woman-centred approach that respected women's perspectives and experiences, and listened to the voices of women not typically heard in health research or health systems.
The mandate of ACEWH was to:
- Contribute to research on women's health issues
- Promote an understanding of gender as a critical variable in women's health
- Enhance the health system's responsiveness to the needs and concerns of women and girls.
ACEWH's research focused on advancing our understanding and responsiveness to the social, economic, political, cultural, and geographic factors that influence women's health and health needs—particularly as they affect the lives of vulnerable, marginalized, and disadvantaged women. We worked for women in these communities to improve their health through the development of gendered, equitable policies and programs.
Vision Statement:
To bring together a diverse group of individuals and organizations to explore and evaluate the social circumstances of women's lives, with the ultimate aim of improving women's health and well-being.